XINGU EXPEDITION
Photo expedition with indigenist photographer Renato Soares
Ipavu KAMAYURÁ Village - Xingu Indigenous Territory
KUARUP
Kuarup for the ethnic groups of the Upper Xingu is a festival in honor of the dead. It is a celebration of the passage of man's spirit to the village of the dead. A log of wood from the “Mari-mari” tree is cut down and the base is buried in the village courtyard. The men gather around it to carve and paint its shapes. The log is then adorned with the “Tucanapi”, a headdress made of toucan, macaw and japim feathers and the sacred feathers of the Royal Hawk. They also tie colorful armbands around it and the Muirapeí snail necklace decorates its “neck”.
At this point, the spirit of the honoree is given a new lease of life in the forms of the Kuarup. The man is already present for the ceremony!
In the days leading up to the Kuarup, the village takes on a new rhythm. For hours on end, you can hear the sound of the Uruá flutes throughout the village, indicating what is about to happen. Colors are also part of this ceremonial. The red of the urucum, the blue-black of the jenipapo and the white of the tabatinga clay are imprinted on the men's bodies. One by one they present themselves to the Kuarup to celebrate their return. In a large cordon, they sing and dance in rhythmic step. Soon all the guests will be present for the Huka-huka fight.
“Huka-huka!”, ‘Huka-huka!’ shout the fighters in a guttural sound, imitating Djauarum, the black jaguar. Facing each other, they turn and taunt each other and, at just the right moment, attack each other. The fight is the end of the tribute, soon the log will be thrown into the waters of the river and from there it will go to Ivati, its new home: the Xinguans' Heaven.
Photography in the villages
In accordance with FUNAI's recent decree to open eco- and ethno-tourism on indigenous lands, Imagens do Brasil has been organizing experiences in the villages since 2016, in agreement with the associations, to raise awareness of the photographic gaze. During the experience, photographer Renato Soares introduces participants to the universe of each ethnic group, explains the rules of behavior in family occasions, as well as providing guidance on the dynamics of rituals and daily life in the village in order to capture the best light and visuals. In groups of 10 to 15 people, the participants are taken on a genuine immersion in the daily life of the communities, getting to know their habits, customs and ritual traditions up close. Always taking care to find financial resources for the villages, the expedition not only guarantees that part of the amount paid by the participants will be passed on to the communities, but is also a way of valuing and publicizing the cultural wealth of each people.
Itinerary:
Day 1 and 2 (July 20-21) -
Participants must arrive in Goiânia-GO in time to go to the city's central bus station and board a VIAÇÃO XAVANTE LEITO BUS at 9 p.m. for Canarana-MT. Tickets will be bought in advance and sent online to each participant, who must pick up the printed ticket in person at the XAVANTE ticket office at least 60 minutes before boarding.
The night trip to Canarana-MT lasts 12 hours (700 km), and the estimated time of arrival is 9 a.m. on Monday, July 21, 2025. In the city, we will stay at the Pousada Castro*, where photographer Renato Soares will be waiting for everyone for breakfast, when he will give a briefing on the expedition.
Lunch (free); * At 7:30 p.m., dinner at the Chopinho restaurant.
Day 3 (July 22) -
Immediately after breakfast, the group will set off in 4x4 vans for the Ipavu village, of the Kamayurá ethnic group, on a journey of around 300 km (approximately 5 hours), passing through immense soybean plantations and, after entering the indigenous land, through large expanses of cerrado and preserved forest.
*Accommodation in Canarana in double rooms
LIVING IN THE VILLAGE
On arrival at the village, the participants will be welcomed by the Kamayurá community. After introductions, the day will be dedicated to exploring the village, which is made up of approximately 400 people. We will visit some families and stay in traditional Xingu houses. We'll sleep in hammocks in the huts and have our meals in the kitchen-dining hall of the village school.
Day 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 and 9 (July 23-28) -
Every day, we will have the opportunity to experience and record the daily activities of the inhabitants of the Ipavu village. Belonging to the TUPI language group, the Kamayurá are known for being great Huka-huka fighters and the women for their delicate beaded necklaces and bracelets. You'll be able to learn about the process of creating handicrafts such as wooden oars, baskets, mats and hammocks made from buriti fibers, as well as necklaces and bracelets made from seeds and colored beads. They will also see how the manioc brava plantation is managed, the staple food for the production of polvilho and beiju, as well as pequi porridge, “perereba” (manioc), and “mutape”, a kind of fish stew made with manioc flour and dried cumari pepper.
HIGHLIGHTS:
July 26 -
This is the day the Kuarup begins. In the afternoon, the invited ethnic groups arrive in large caravans and set up their camps in the woods surrounding the village. The trunks of the Kuarup will be painted and decorated by the relatives of the various invited villages. It's a collective effort that requires concentration and respect. During the afternoon, the Uruá flutes are played throughout the village, passing from house to house to announce the ceremonies. On the night the spirits return to the village, no one sleeps and the singers set the tone for the ceremony alongside the Kuarup logs;
July 27 (Morning) -
Huka-huka fight
First thing in the morning, the tributes begin. A line of men dances in the village courtyard, greeting the spirits who inhabit the Kuarup trunk, and then positions themselves for the start of the Huka-huka fights. One by one, the champions present themselves and begin the fights. After the champion fights, the other fighters, including the children, face off simultaneously. In the early afternoon, the visitors say goodbye and begin their journey back to their villages.
27 July (afternoon) -
Among the peoples of the Upper Xingu, each one is recognized for their productive specialization, which allows them to participate in a system of exchanges. The Wauja are potters; the Yawalapíti are flute makers; the Mehinako are the owners of the most beautiful wooden stools; while the Kalapalo and Kuikuro have mastered the art of the famous snail necklaces. On Sunday afternoon, we will hold a MOITARÁ (trade fair) between our expedition group and the community. Set aside some personal belongings and items of clothing to exchange with the community's handicrafts. The village women love dresses, Havaianas sandals, bath towels, soaps and shampoos. Their handicrafts will also be on sale.
July 28 - 7:00 a.m. -
We'll leave the village very early, back to CANARANA, in vans. Check-in at POUSADA CASTRO for a shower and rest. On the same day, at 6 p.m., we'll board the EXPRESSO XAVANTE bus at the bus station in Canarana, bound for GOIÂNIA.
July 29 -
Departure at 6 a.m. at the Goiânia bus station. Everyone goes their own way.
EXTRA INFORMATION
Inside the village -
At dawn, families head to the lagoon to bathe and then start their domestic chores. The women go out to the fields. On their return, they grate manioc and prepare starch. The men go fishing and many other activities take place at the same time.
Food -
For breakfast, there will be fruit, toast, honey and butter, as well as the traditional tapioca kisses, freshly made. Lunch and dinner - Non-indigenous menu (prepared by our production) balanced with cereals, carbohydrates and proteins, with the occasional inclusion of fresh fish.
Personal hygiene -
Whenever it gets hot, the Ipavu lagoon, 200 meters from the village, is an invitation to swim and bathe. The rivers and lagoons are a great focal point, places where the community's families gather for bathing, recreation and fishing. The village also has masonry bathrooms for visitors, with a toilet, sink and cold water shower.
Inside the huts, you can see the manufacture of different handicrafts by men and women: making hammocks, baskets and mats from buriti fibers, as well as necklaces and earrings. The community is involved in the production of props and beautiful body paintings, with jenipapo and annatto paint, for the Kuarup Ritual.
Traditional fishing is done by the men, using the timbó, a type of vine that when struck on the surface of the water releases a substance that numbs the fish, making it easier to catch them. Bows and arrows, harpoons and nets are also used.
Tour price includes:
- Accommodation in Canarana/MT - 2 nights (21/07 and 28/07)
- Dinner on arrival in Canarana (21/07);
- Accommodation in the Ipavu Kamayurá Village (22/07 to 28/07);
- Food in the village (breakfast, lunch and dinner, with
variety of fruit, vegetables, cereals, eggs and meat);
- Hammock and microfiber blanket;
- Transfer by sleeper bus from Goiânia/Canarana/Goiânia
- Transfer by 4X4 vehicle from Canarana/ Aldeia Ipavu/ Canarana
- Photographic support and advice from Renato Soares;
- Signing of a contract for the right to use the image
for marketing the photos, with a 33% return for the
community**
** Anyone interested, please let us know in advance.
Tour price does NOT include:
- Travel to and from Goiânia (at the beginning and end of the expedition).
end of the expedition);
- Meals not mentioned or alcoholic beverages;
- Photographic equipment;
- Personal expenses.
- Travel insurance
Checklist of Things to Bring with you:
- Comfortable clothes for the day and warm clothes for the night.
In July it is very hot during the day, but the nights can be cold (17 °C);
- Clothes and towels for swimming in the rivers and lakes;
- Hats and/or caps and Flashlight, repellent and sunscreen;
- Canteen or bottle. The water for consumption in the village comes from artesian wells.
good quality. If you prefer, you can buy tablets or bottles with filters
to purify the water;
- Camera, memory cards, batteries and chargers,
cables, laptop and tripod;
Other information:
- If there are extreme inconveniences to sleeping in hammocks, we can
provide an inflatable mattress. Please let us know in advance;
- We do not provide pillows or bedding, only the hammock and a
microfiber blanket;
- It is expressly forbidden to carry or consume alcoholic beverages or any
alcoholic beverages or any kind of narcotic;
Vaccinations - recommended:
It is recommended that foreign tourists come to Brazil with a full vaccination schedule for Covid, diphtheria, tetanus and polio, according to the indications recommended in the country of origin.
* There will be no refund of amounts paid in the event of withdrawal,
after June 30, 2025.
US$ Prices on request!
